Mahama, Mills never added a single ambulance to the existing ones – Ministry of Health PRO

Former President John Dramani Mahama did not add a single ambulance to the current fleet, this is according to the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ministry of Health (MOH), Robert Cudjoe.

He told Kumasi-based Oyerepa Fm that after assuming power in 2012, the previous administration continued relying on the depleting fleet until that time when it was realized the number was woefully inadequate to serve the entire population in the country.

“According to plans by the National Ambulance Service, there should have been a regular replacement of ambulances every five years but unfortunately, report reaching us indicates that previous government did not add a single ambulance to the existing ones for the past five years”.

According to him, since 2008 after the exit of President John Agyekum Kufuor, no government has purchased a single ambulance.

”I can say that even the existing ambulances in the country were those purchased by the former President John Agyekum Kufuor during his term of office. The previous government didn’t add anything to it”. Mr. Cudjoe told Nana Jantuah the host of the program in his interview.

The ministry’s statement comes after it was revealed that, former Vice President Amissah Arthur lost his life after he collapsed during his routine exercise at the gym.

“There was no ambulance to ferry ex-Vice-President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur to the 37 Military Hospital after he collapsed at the Airforce Gym on Friday, 29 June 2018 during one of his usual workout sessions”.

Okyehene Amoatia Ofori Panin II, paramount chief of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional area, was also working out in the same gym as the two friends had done over the past 14 years.

Currently, almost 30 million Ghanaians will have to struggle over 54 ambulances.

Mr. Cudjoe, however, accepted the fact that, the ministry is not up and doing with it responsibilities when it comes to health delivery blaming financial problems as the major contributing factor.